USWNT vs New Zealand, October 2025 Friendly: Preview, Time, and How to Watch
The USWNT has only lost once to tonight’s opponent, New Zealand. It occurred in 1987 (which, fun fact, was Mia Hamm’s first year with the National Team). In the other 20 games since between the two nations, New Zealand have lost 19 and drawn 1.
Still, Portugal had never so much as scored against the US, even though they got a morale boosting draw at the last World Cup against them. They managed 3 goals in their back to back games against the US this window. So, Emma Hayes will be on her guard and looking to close out this international break with a strong, decisive performance.
They key to achieving said result likely lies in the midfield three. Will they flounder and fail to connect the lines, as they did in their first game to Portugal, or will they connect far better, as they did in the second contest? Tune in to find out.
New Zealand are ranked 33rd in the FIFA rankings, the US feature at 2nd. Rankings don’t play soccer, so let’s see what happens on the field.
How to Watch
USA vs. New Zealand
Advertised Kick-off Time: 8:00pm Eastern, 5:00pm Pacific
Venue: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Available TV: TNT, truTV (English), Universo (Spanish)
Available streaming: HBO Max (English), Peacock (Spanish)
I find it disturbing that dating back to the last Women’s World Cup the midfield has been the weak point of the USWNT. They really need to get it straightened out.
Didn’t want to editorialize too much in a blog preview, but I personally think we’re gonna be fine long term, provided Hayes ceases to build around Lindsey Heaps. We have several spectacular talents to configure correctly, including Yohannes, Hutton, and Coffey, who are some of the most talented players we’ve ever had at the position. Coffey is the clear player to orbit the midfield around. Heaps, woof, she’s just not suited for our setup.
Totally agree.
I’ve been watching U-17 Women’s World Cup on Fox Sports 2. The growth and investment world wide in women’s soccer over the last decades has been remarkable.
There was no Women’s World Cup until 1991 and basically only senior teams existed. Norway, China, and USA were the best ones and USWNT depended on college soccer, driven by Title IX, to develop players.
Everyone remembers the 1999 World Cup with 99,000 in Rose Bowl. That gave a tremendous boost to women’s soccer worldwide.
A FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup appeared in 2002 and the U-17 in 2008.
Canada is shellacking Zambia 4-0 at halftime in the quarterfinals, but the fact that Zambia even has a quality squad is significant.
One of my closest friends is a woman from Zambia, it is indeed very cool, and she’s quite proud of their efforts. They certainly seem to be able to produce attacking talent, the next step is to figure out how to develop young defenders and midfielders who can then find continued experience in the best women’s leagues. Hope it happens.
Lineup out
Claudia Dickey
Lilly Real- Jordyn Bugg- Kennedy Wesley- Emily Sams
Lily Yohannes- Claire Hutton
Rose Lavelle
Emma Sears-Catarina Macario- Michelle Cooper
Claire Hutton gets a chance to play in her home stadium, but I sincerely hope Hayes’ calculation isn’t that she can only field Hutton against weaker opponents. She’s too good for that nonsense. I say this, because, while it’s understandable that you have to manage personalities in the dressing room, at some point, you have to go with talent and commitment. She’s got spades of it.
Cooper is also playing at her club home, and I’d be surprised if Labonta and Sentnor don’t feature off the bench.
McKeown makes the bench for today’s match.
Yep. Not too worried about Tara’s status- this is a chance to see some defenders against a decent but manageable opponent. I imagine Tara is still just below Girma in the CB depth chart, though it continues to worry me how loathe Hayes is to turn from Sonnett, who I just don’t think is technically good enough to play in the backline
Good. TNT’s excellent coverage didn’t show bench.
The US finds the goal before the 8th minute, audacious (and long!) backheel by Lily from the sideline releases Cooler into the box, and Sears expert diagonal run into the box finds the far corner.
Only real weakness for this lineup is the attacking ability if Sams and Reale from fullback. It’s maybe ok to play one of them and have a bit of a back three typically, but for all their one vs one defensive chops, their touch and service is not going to help much in possession
Heaps and Coffey sub in for Hutton and Lavelle, looks like.
My impression is that, under Emma Hayes, USWNT is back heeling much more and very effectively to break attackers. Into open spaces.
Lily looks to have an ankle knock, hope it’s not serious, but probably would be smart to use one of the 6 subs to get someone in
Heaps appears to be be formally playing as a 10 right now. Probably the safest place to put her, but completely unconvinced that she’s a better option there than Shaw or Sentnor.
Still think Hayes needs to cut the cord with her, which is a sad thing to say, given how dedicated she’s been to the program and how gamely she accepted the captaincy in a tough period. It’s just so clear her place doesn’t exist
Cat makes it 5. Slaughter rules with plenty of time to go.
NZ simply don’t have anyone dangerous enough going forward to give the US a second’s pause.
Labonta on for Yohannes, Ryan on for Cooper, Shaw for Macario at false nine.
It’s not exactly the pairing of the future, but am curious to see how Labonta does partnering Coffey. If they have even a basic understanding, it should be a decent option for stability in the double pivot.
To be fair to Heaps, Ryan just robbed her of an assist with that misfire. NZ’s shape is pretty dead at this point.
Gaetano in for Reale, pushing Bugg to left back. If Bugg shows well there, I expect Reale falls precipitously down the fullback depth chart
Post denies an own goal off the set piece, Sears smashes in the rebound across the line.
6-0, and with subs trying to impress, 5 minutes + stoppage is gonna be an eternity for NZ
Ref blows the whistle about seven seconds past the 90, and fair enough, game was cooked, and a random injury wouldn’t have been worth inviting.
6-0 win for the US, leaving NZ with some real soul searching to do.